Press control mechanism



p 9 F. R. HIGLEY 2,171,557

PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l FlG.-3

XNVENTOR FRANK R. HIGLEY BY 69% Mm TTORNEYJ Sept. 5, 1939. F. R. HIGLEY PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l z'g ll/l a r FIG-5 FIG.

INVENTOR FRANK R. HIGLEY Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Frank R, Higley, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 23, 1937, Serial No. 165,342

8 Claims.

- apparent from the accompanying drawings and specification and the essential features will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of a pressing machine in open position with my novel control mechanism shown diagrammatically; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the press just before reaching safe closed position and the control mechanism in corresponding position; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the control mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2 in fully operated position corresponding to the closed press; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show diagrammatically a modified form of control mechanism, the position of the parts in Fig. 4 corresponding to press open position, in Fig. 5 just prior to safe closed position, and in Fig. 6 to fully closed position of the press.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a pressing machine of the type commonly used in garment and laundry pressing, comprising a frame l0, supporting a bed I I, and a pivoted yoke 52 which carries a head 13 into and out of engagement with the pressing bed when toggle i4 is actuated by fluid motor !5. A spring I6 biases the h ad toward open position. Pressure fluid is supp-lied to motor l5 through conduit l'l, valve casing l3 and conduit [9. Casing l8 has a normally closed inlet valve closed by the ball I811 and a normally open outlet valve 18b, on a stem I which is provided with the yieldable end ltd. No spring is shown for closing the valve l8a as the same will be closed by air pressure if the valve is suitably positioned. For actuation of the valves in casing 58, I provide a pair of spaced safety manuals 20 and 2| connected by toggles 22 and 23 respectively with the ends of a whiffletree 25. This whiiilctree has a pin 25 which engages the rod 26 of a diagram motor 21. This motor has a stationay mounting on the frame. This rod extends in a sealed manner through the diaphragm so as to engage the valve stem to which it is pinned. Stops 28 limit the outward movement of the toggles 22 and 23 and stop 29 limits the inward movement.

Means is provided for preventing movement of toggles 22 and 23 past their center line before the press is safely closed. This means comprises a block 35 which forms part of a bell crank 3| pivotally mounted on the press and connected with rod 32 which in turn passes through slotted bracket 33 on toggle l4. Rod 32 is provided with i collars 32a and 32b and is biased by spring 3-; to hold the block 30 in the position of Figs. 1 and 2. A conduit 35 connects conduit I9 with the chamber 36 of motor 21. A reducing valve 38 may be placed in conduit 35 to make the operation of the manuals easier.

With the press in the open position of Fig. 1, the operator actuates manuals 2B and 2| from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2 where the block 36 stops them short of center line position. 53

Pin 25 on the whifiletree engages rod 26, thus moving the valves in casing !8 to their actuated position and supplying pressure fluid through conduit i1, valve casing l8 and conduit !9 to motor 15. Operation of both manuals coincidentally is required to move the valves in casing 8 to their actuated position because of the Whifiletree connection and the gap between pin 25 and rod 26. As soon as the valves in casing l8 are actuated fluid from conduit l9 also passes through conduit 35 to chamber 36 of motor 21. This causes the diaphragm 21a which is rigidly connected to rod 25 to exert a pressure against pin 25 tending to return the manuals to the position of Fig. 1 if either of them is released. The fluid pressure against the valve parts in casing l8 also exerts a force tending to return the manuals. Upon the press reaching safe closed position the block 35 is withdrawn, which can be felt by the operator as she presses on the manuals 28 and 2 i. Second stage operation of the manuals is then possible, moving them to the over-center position of Fig. 3 where the movement is limited by the fixed stop 29. Upon reaching this position the pressure in chamber 35 of motor 21 now acts to hold the manuals in their over-center position and the operator may release them and the press will remain closed.

. The additional motion necessary to move the toggles 22 and 23 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3 with the valve I82) already in closed position, is made possible by the yielding valve stem end l8d.

In the modification of Figs. 4 to 6, the control mechanism is substantially the same except for the supply of fluid to the holding diaphragm motor. Therefore all of the parts having similar functions have been given similar reference characters. In this modification, however, conduit l'l communicates by conduit 31, valve 38 and conduit 39 to the chamber 36 in the holding motor 21. This supplies line pressure at all times to chamber 36 as against the first form where fluid pressure is supplied to chamber 36 only after the valves in casing I 8 are actuated. Preferably the valve 38 is a reducing valve so as to decrease the pressure in chamber 36 to the point where it is easier for the operator to actuate the manuals but it will be understood the pressure is suflicient to hold the manuals in the position of Fig. 4 or that of Fig. 6. It is thought further description of the operation of this modiflcation is unnecessary.

In either modification, to open the press it is only necessary to return one of the manuals to the position of Fig. 1 or Fig. 4. This permits the valves to return to oiT" position under the influence of fluid pressure.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and power actuating means therefor, a control member for said power means normally in power cut-off position, a pair of spaced safety manuals, an equalizer bar having intermediate its ends an operative connection with said control member, toggles connecting the manuals with opposite ends of said bar, said toggles being arranged to move overcenter by movement of said manuals from unoperated to operated position, and servo-motor means for holding said toggles over-center.

2. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and power actuating means therefor, a control member for said power means normally in power cut-off position, a pair of spaced safety manuals, an equalizer bar having intermediate its ends an operative connection with said control member, toggles connecting the manuals with opposite ends of said bar, said toggles being arranged to move overcenter by movement of said manuals from unoperated to operated position, said manuals having a first stage of movement placing said toggles short of center position and adapted to move said control member to power supply position and having a second stage of movement placing said toggles over center and adapted to hold said control member in power supply position, means preventing second stage movement of said manuals until said pressing members reach safe-closed position, and servo-motor means for holding said toggles in over center position.

3. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and fluid power means for causing said relative movement, a fluid supply for said power means including a normally closed inlet valve, a pair of spaced safety manuals movable to full operated position and to an intermediate position short of full operated position, an operative connection between said manuals and valve requiring movement of both manuals conjointly to intermediate position to open said valve, servo-motor means for holding said manuals in full operated position only when they are moved beyond their intermediate position, and means preventing movement of said manuals beyond intermediate position until said pressing members reach safe closed position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said servo-motor is constantly supplied with pressure fluid.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the supply of fluid for said servo-motor includes said normally closed inlet valve, whereby fluid is supplied to said servo-motor only after said valve is opened. I

6. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and power actuating means therefor, control means for said power means normally in power cut-off position, manual means including a pair of spaced safety manuals having two stages of operation, a first stage during which said manuals are returnable to inoperative position upon their release by an operator and a second stage during which said manuals are maintained in operated position independently of the operator, operative connections between said manual means and said control means requiring conjoint operation of both manuals through said first stage of operation to move said control means to power supply position, servo-motor means for holding said manual means in operated position only after second stage operation of said manual means, and means preventing second stage actuation of said manual means until said pressing members reach safeclosed position.

7. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressing members and fluid power means for causing said relative movement, fluid supply for said power means including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve operable by a common stem, an equalizer bar having intermediate its ends an operative connection with said valve stem, a pair of spaced safety manuals, each connected to an end of said bar by a toggle, the parts being so arranged that movement of said toggles short of central straightened position moves said stem to open said inlet valve and to close said outlet valve, means preventing movement of said toggles over center until said pressing members reach safeclosed position, and a servo-motor acting against said equalizer bar and toggles to hold said toggles on either side of center position to which they may be moved.

8. In a pressing machine having a pair of relatively movable coacting pressing members and fluid actuated operating means therefor, a control valve for said means normally in fluid cutoff position and having a fluid supply position beyond which it cannot be moved, an equalizer bar operatively associated with said valve, two toggles connected one with each end of said bar, manual means for actuating said toggles, said toggles normally breaking to one side of center when said valve is in cut-off position, said toggles being so arranged that movement of both of them to short-of-straightened position moves said valve to supply position, means limiting said toggles to an overstraightened position for holding said valve in supply position, and means forming a pressure fluid cushion between said bar and said valve adapted to be compressed when said toggles move from short-of-straightened to overstraightened position and to hold said toggles in overstraightened position against said limiting means.

FRANK R. HIGLEY. 

